Flertallsformen

Flertallsformen is a linguistic term used to refer to the plural form of a word in languages that mark number. It denotes more than one item and is the counterpart to entallsformen, the singular form. In many Germanic and Nordic languages, the plural form is an essential part of noun inflection and also affects agreement with adjectives and determiners.

Different languages form the flertallsformen in various ways. Some rely on suffixes, others on stem changes, and some use irregular or suppletive forms. In many cases, a definite plural form exists that attaches a definite ending to the plural stem. Still, some languages keep plural marking only in the noun, while adjectives or determiners also mirror the plural.

Examples in Norwegian Bokmål and Swedish illustrate the concept. Norwegian plural indefinite: bok → bøker; definite plural: bøkene. Swedish plural indefinite: bok → böcker; definite plural: böckerna. English provides a cross-linguistic reference: book → books (plural), the plural form is used with more than one unit and interacts with determiners and adjectives.

In grammar and dictionaries, the flertallsformen is listed as the plural variant of a word, helping learners and speakers supply correct agreement in sentences. While many languages make plural marking regular, others feature irregular plurals or multiple plural patterns depending on word class, gender, or historical sound changes.

Overall, flertallsformen is a central concept in understanding how languages encode quantity and ensure agreement across adjectives, determiners, and related words.